A number of people have asked what we did for our Good Friday and Easter services. I realize that this response is long overdue...Good Friday. The mood was set as people came into the building. Various accounts of the crucifixion were displayed on art in the Commons. Inside the auditorium, more quotes and passages were scrolling on the walls from the projectors. There were five artists on stage painting on canvases. Soft music (soundtrack from the Passion) was playing.
The worship team started the service by playing In Christ Alone (led by the violin). We all joined in by only singing the first two verses.
Steve welcomed everyone and read from Psalm 22.
We sang three worship songs (How Deep the Father's Love for Us, Blessed Redeemer, and Mighty is the Power of the Cross). Steve read a sermon using Matthew 26 and 1 Corinthians 11. The artists continued to paint on their canvases.
Communion was started by the acoustic guitar player singing Open Hands. The congregation came to the front of the church to the different stations to partake of the bread and juice. A single candle illuminated the elements on top of each round table.
When everyone returned to their seats, we sang Heidi Holt's version of Nothing but the Blood. The acoustic guitarist had a pedal that recorded his guitar and allowed him to play over top of what he played the first time.
Steve came up and read the accounts of the crucifixion. They were from all four gospels, placed together as a single story. When he reached the part that said Jesus was crucified, everything went black. After a five second pause, a hammer in the back was used to hit a metal bar. The sound was stark and chilling as it rang throughout the auditorium.
The artists then took their paintings and moved to the back of the stage. Each painting hooked onto the other to form the picture that you see at the top of this post. A motorized wench hoisted the art (attached to a massive cedar log) so everyone could see the entire piece (the length was about 25 feet). A small beam of light revealed the art to the congregation when everything was in place.
While the artists were hanging their paintings, Steve continued to read from the Bible. The band played The Wonderful Cross led by the violinist. When Steve finished, all the lights went off and the violin concluded the song. As we left, only the painting was visible.
We had a powerful service. The artists did an outstanding job, the worship team was amazing, and the tech booth was terrific. For me, this was the best Good Friday service that I have ever led.
